He told safc.com: "I have to admit myself that my patience is wearing thin." But he added, "We have to keep trying to bring in those three or four players as quickly as possible."

Rees Greenwood is one of the Sunderland AFC youngsters on their pre-season training camp in Austria | Photo: Getty Images

Challenging for the top spot

Pre-season has allowed a number of young players to mix with the senior players, with a number of them making the trip to Austria.

Tommy, Ethan and Josh Robson, Lynden Gooch, Josh Maja, Rees Greenwood, Tom Beadling, George Honeyman and Max Stryjek all made the trip, and Allardyce believes they can be challenging for first-team involvement.

Allardyce said: “We’ve got a lot of young players with us" and is "hoping they’re going to flourish under the microscope of being with the first-team squad and play a part this season."

Sunderland AFC will take on Hartlepool United at Victoria Park on Wednesday July 20 with kick-off at 7:30pm BST.